Lubricating device



Feb. 13, 1945. BERG 2,369,428

LUBRICATIN-G DEVICE Filed NOV. 24, I941 I NVENTOR. William Buy ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 13, 1945 l P E FF C LUBRICATING DEVICE William AQ Berg, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Frederick Colman & Sons, Inc., Detroit, f acorporation of Michigan i Application November 24,

' Clai 1ns (cr es-4) I This invention relates to a lubricating device.

More particularly the invention is concerned with a lubricator forfeeding anddistributing a lubricant or the like from a sourceunderpressureto a, multiplicity of, points. requiring lubrication such, for example, as the bearing or frictiqn surfaces on amachine. l g H It is the object of this invention to produce a device for distributing a, lubricant or r the like which is simple in structure, economical to manufacture, durable, compact, highlyefficient and positive in action, easily and quickly installed and possessed of a minimumof parts.

In the drawing: l r

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of the complete lubricating system showing the lubrican distributing device in section.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line of Fig. 3 of the lubricator housing.

Fig. 3 is an end view of thehousing. z r Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the distribut ing valve.

Fig. 5 is a section of the valve along the line 55 of Fig. 4. 1

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail for the housing. i

Referring more particularly to thedrawing. there' is shown diagrammatically a. machine I which requires lubrication. The. machine I obviously can be any kind of av machine such as a shell turning machine, screw. machine, press, metal orwoodworking machines. In fact,

was of the, end mgs Mich.,

1941; Serial No. 426.251

way HI connects. lines l3 and fiftogether. As

shown inFig. l,lines;l and I2 constitute the high pressure line and linesol3 and 6 the low pressure or exhaust return line to the reservoir.

The lubricating feeder. or. distributing device. comprises a housing 14 having an opening l5.

therein. ,The opening I5 preferably is cylindri cal and serves as a cylinder for the sliding valve IS. The opposite ends'of cylinder ii are connected by ,pipe lines I! and i 8 to another four-..

way valve 19. Lines I1 and lflwconnect into the.

plugs which are screwed into the ends of the housingfl for closing theopposite ends of the cylinder l5. .Plugs 20 are; provided with open-.

ings 2| which have a liquid tight fit with lines "and I8. Four-way valve 19 is connected with.

the reservoir 2 by line 22 and with line 4 by line 23. The inner rotatable valve member 24 is provided with passageways 25 and 26 and is rotated. bya lever 21 connected by a link 28 with lever,

ll. Valves 1 and I9 are connectedtogether for simultaneous operation. Thevparticular valves and the arrangement for connecting the valves together for coincidental operation are shownfor' purposes of description and not by way of limitation. 1 As shown in the full lines of Fig. 1, passageway 26 connects line II with. the high pres sure line 23 and passageway 24 connects ,line l8 with the exhaust or return oilline 22. H

the lubricating device is applicable to any kind of a machine having bearings, friction surfaces, or other points which require lubrication.-

The machine I, as herein shown, is hydraulically operated by means of a hydraulic power system comprising a reservoir Zfor a liquid such as a lubricating oil or similar substance, a pump 3, preferably .but not necessarily of the constant delivery type, connected to the machine I and the reservoir 2 by a conduit or oil pipe line 4.

Apressure relief'valve 5 is alsomounted in-the line 4 for bypassing the oil through line from the pump back into the reservoir 2 Whenever the pressure reaches a predetermined point. The

return oil linefrom the valve 1 to the reservoir Zis designated 6. A four-wayyalve 1 is connectedinto lines 4 and 6 and is connected to the .50 machine by lines IZand l3. The inner rotary 1 valve member 8 is provided with passagewaysl,

9j and I0 and is rotated by means ofhand lever H. "A shown in Fig. I, the passageway! cones lines sa ta swhsr as a a e .It will be noted that the valve is isprovided with a longitudinal boreor passageway 29 but the end of the valveis closed as at 30. The valve Is is provided with a plurality oflcircumferential grooves 3| which communicate with bore 29 by the radially extending passageway 32. r l

The housing 14 is provided withaplurality of l passageway 33 extending radially from cylindrical opening l5 and spaced longitudinally of cylinder' l5 the same distance that grooves 3lare sp'acedlongitudinally of valve l6. Passageways 33 are connected by suitable fittings 34 with aplurality of oil or lubricating lines 35.which are connected into the machine I at. the surface needing lubrication.

.in operation by throwing valve handle II to the .left, as indicated, so that lines 4 and 12 are high l pressure lines to the machine I ancl'lines l3 and 6' ar return or exhaust oil lines. By swinging handle. ll to the left, as shown, link 28.acts

through lever 21 to actuate four-way valve 19 so that. lines 23 and 11 are high pressure lines and.

lines l8 and22 are return oil lines. l The high pre ure br a t er n Wlflldsr '5 12 9 .89

The operation of the device is as iollows: As shown in Fig. 1, the operator has setmachine I thereby fed into the machine I.

line H shifts valve IB longitudinally in cylinder e a predetermined quantity of oil, due to the pressure existing in line H, is shot into lines 35 and When the operator stops the machine by swin ing lever II to the right, passageway-.9 invalll I then connects lines 4 and I3 and passageway 10 connects lines I 2 and 6 which become the exhaust or return oil line. As lever+-l-l-is swung to the right, link 28 moves lever 21 ninety degrees to the,

right thereby rotating valve member 24 so that ing .theman exhaust or return oil line and pas.- sageway 26 oonnectsilines Hand 13 making @them a 'high pressure line.

valve [5 grooves 3|. .againcommunicate withand pass .by passageways 33 .thereby ejecting some oil intQlinesfiS and thence into the-points .towloe.

oiled on the machine 4.

Dnthe return stroke of valve ilfi: the pressure n th il ylinder wand passageway .01 value :1 6: is caused primarily by the return, stroke of the valvesactingiagainst the inertia .of the oil in the .valve 1 6, cylinder :li'i ,andreturn .oil' lines lil landwzz. pressure, offcou-rse, will not be nearlyas high-as :the pressure .on the. oil during the .down stnokeiofsthe valve. 415., above described,

when. line" II, as shown in the drawing, is con:- necteduthrough. value 19 with :the high pressure lin 23. .011 the'return or upward strokeioi. .vaive lifisthereis a. hack .pressuretexisting; in. line ill.

Th back ressure will .eauseiasmall amount. of oi-l to flee; lfed through. passageways ;.32 as. they momentarily communicatezwithports 3.3 inloylinr (1913:1 4- ",HOWQl/Gli ibllfih onithe pre sure or down: stroke-of: valve 1! lib-as sued-as on the return or p strokeof valve ll-Biugraoves 34 communicate momentarily with zpassageway wtsz and thereby feed or discharge oil into. oil lines .3.5 :uthich 5091.1? duotxithe .-.oil...to;ith.e points .to be; lubricated in machine 1L i lIThB. nressure'develonedrby the pump w ll va 7 wi h th trpexof pumnymdlandt esneedof' 'oioil: notbeing fed intotheoil lines -.35... Fu ther,

in eeedingitha oi-l .fnomwthe high pressure line through passageway-Z9; ports 132, circumferential grooyes .31, into passageways- 33 and :conduits 35, noicheck valvesand other moving parts .whichlare apt to's'ticklo'r gum up are used. Thusnthe feed of'the oil is positive and certain. The amount-of oil -fed into the lines -35 --per stroke of the valve I 6 will beg-determined by the pressure {developed by jm n 'e the; S 1.P Y 55 and 83; bviously,-z'if- "more" oil is needed, the

The .oil unde v pressure now reacts againstthe closedend of valveel 6.. and

causes it to move upwardly to the upperend of I cylinder 15, Fig. 1. On the upor return strckeof.

70 side. iltrierar, said orts. b ing {spaced ion tudina y of. said ..cy-1iri i.er. l uid linesile dine diameter of these openings will be increased and if less oil is needed, the diameter of these openings will be decreased.

Four way valves 1 and I9 are shown for de- 5 scriptive purposes and not by way of limitation.

Also the return or up stroke of valve I6 is efiected preferably but not necessarily by oil pressure fr m l ne.l8.. Mechanicalmeans such as a spring could .be used to return yaly i IE on its up stroke,

10 but the use of oil under pressure from line I8 is preferred. claim:

- 1. Lubricating apparatus comprising in combinationasounce of lubricant under pressure, a cylr derf prpvided with a plurality of ports in the side. vzalltheree rsaid po s b g aced lon tudinally of said cylinder, liquid lines leading from "saicl' ports tothe-parts to. be lubricated, a hollow pistqnvalve reoiprocable in said cylinder, said hollow piston valve having an open end through D ssagewayfi noWconnects-lines 22 andv l I mak 255,v on-one-side of the valve, a second conduitconnected into the-cylinder on the other side of the valve, means for alternately connecting the first amdsecondconduitswvith said source of-lubricant under pressure while alternately opening the first and second conduits to-exhaust the cylinder whereby-each conduit serves alternately as a pressu-re line while connected to the source-of lubricant under pressure and then as-an exhaust/ oomduit while the other conduit is connectedto the source of lubricant underpressure, said piston valve having-- a plurality-of ports therein, said. ports in the piston valve being spaced dong-itudi nally of said yalveweach cylinder port having a cooperating port in said piston valve, each of 41-); said valve ports during each stroke. of the piston valve traveling from one sideot its cooperating cylinder port into communication with said cooperatingcylinoler port and then to the other side of its cooperating cylinder port'wherebythe portsin :the cylinder wall communicate througha-the ports in the piston with the interior of athelho'llow I pistonevalve, the alternate connecting of .thetfirstand-secondconduitswith the source .of lubricant. under pressure causing said piston valve to rectprocate in the cylinder whereby the. ports fmz the pistonocommunica-te momentarily :with the ports inthe cylinderwalldurin'ga portion only .of each v stroke of the piston and lubricant flows. from the ports in the cylinder through the. liquid 'lineslto. the partstobe lubricated. I

'2, The combination as claimed .-in I claim 1' whercintheipiston valve takes the form .o f;-a .ho1-. law cylinder .closed atloneend, the s. thepiston va ue extendin rad a y its-m the-outer 6 wall. .ofrthe lpiston, valve intothe..ha 1ow interior 1 irth l p ston nva veithe longitud n sp cin f.

va v wh r bypsmmun ation jbe w en all. c the.

o5 epr a is duve in a d p s enl ested 9 2 lly sim ltaneousl t-lh l'r l i i "ass l omp ing in com ination a source -0f lubricantunder; pressure, ,a

a cylinder provided with a p u a ty otp ntsin the fro nsaid. p rts; to .th .nar.ts...t0..b ubri a ed, a on valve esi ro able s id cy inde a fi st d p rts.

. a the cylinder cor es o dingtothe on tu in -spa in of. the por s hclpistoa cylinder on the other side of the valve, means for alternately Connecting the first and second conduits with said source of lubricant under pressure while alternately opening the first and second conduits to exhaust the cylinder whereby each conduit serves alternately as a pressure line while connected to the source of lubricant under pressure and then as an exhaust conduit, while the other conduit is connected tothe source of lubricant under pressure, said piston valve being in the form of a hollow cylinder closed at one end and provided with spaced circumferential grooves, and passageways connecting the grooves Withllhe hollow interior of said valve, said groovesin the, piston, valve being spaced longitudinally of said 'valve, each cylinder port having acooperating groove in said piston valve, each of said valve grooves during each stroke of the piston valve traveling from one side of itscooperating cylinder port into communication with said cooperating cylinder port and then tothe other side of its cooperating cylinder port whereby the ports in the side wall of the" cylinder communicate through the circumferential grooves and passage- Ways in the piston valve with the interior of the cylinder during a portion only of each stroke of the piston and lubricant-flows from the ports in l the cylinder wall through the liquid lines to the l parts to be lubricated, the alternate connecting of the first and second conduits with the source of lubricant under pressure causing said piston valve to reciprocate in the cylinder.

4. Lubricating apparatus comprisingin combination a source of lubricant under pressure, a cylinder provided with a plurality of ports in the side wall thereof, said portsbeing spaced longitudinally of said cylinder, liquid lines leading,

from said ports to the parts to be lubricated, a hollow piston valve reciprocable in said cylinder,

a first conduit connected to the cylinder on one side of the valve, a second conduit connected into the cylinder on the other side of the valve, a valve connected into the first and second conduits for alternately connecting the first and second conduits with said source of lubricant under pres-,

sure while alternately opening the first and second conduits to exhaust the cylinder whereby each conduit serves alternately as a pressure line while connected to the source of lubricant under pressure and then as an exhaust conduit while the other conduit is connected to thesource of lubricant under pressure, said piston valve having radial ports therein extending completely through valve to reciprocate in the cylinder whereby then outlets, the interior of said hollow pistonvalve' its side wall, said ports in the piston valve being spaced longitudinally of said valve, each cylinder port having a cooperating port in said piston valve, each of said valve ports during each stroke of the piston valvetraveling' from one side of its cooperating cylinder port into communication with said cooperatingcylinder port and then to the other side of its cooperating cylinder port whereby the ports in the cylinder wall communicate through the ports in the piston with the, interiorof the cylinder, the alternate connecting,

of the first and second conduits with the source of lubricant under pressure causing said piston ports in the piston communicate momentarily with the ports in the cylinder wall during a portion only of each stroke of the piston and lubricant flows from the ports in the cylinder through the liquid lines to the parts to be lubricated.

5. An apparatus for'discharging lubricant or the lik comprising a cylinder having openings at opposite ends, a plurality of outlets fromsaid 1 cylinder adapted to be connected to the devices to be lubricated, said outlets being spaced longitudinally of said cylinder, a hollow piston valve reciprocable in said cylinder for controlling said communicating through one of its ends with the interior of said cylinder, a plurality of longitudinally spaced passageways through the side wall of said piston, each outlet from the cylinder having a cooperating passageway through said hollow piston valve, each said passageway during each stroke of the piston valve traveling from one side of its cooperating outlet into communication with said cooperating outlet and then to the other side of its cooperating outlet in the cylinder, 2. source of lubricant under pressure, a line for optionally connecting one of said openings at the end of the cylinder and on one side of said valve with said source of lubricant while the other of said openings at the opposite end of said cylinder serves as an exhaust port whereby said lubricant under pressure reacts against said valve causing the same tdtravel one stroke in said cylinder and each outlet is placed momentarily in communication-through its cooperating passageway in said valve with said source of lubricant under pressure and lubricant is discharged through each of said outlets, and means for returning the valve 'to its initial position when said line is disconnected from the source of lubricant under pressure.

WILLIAM A. BERG. 

